Method to measure and characterize interference throughout a cellular system

ABSTRACT

A computer implemented process compares signals communicated between a known position and a plurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determine the level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position, and determines a value indicating a probability of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/887,101, filed Jul. 2,1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to cellular telephone systems and, moreparticularly, to processes for designing and improving the performanceof cellular telephone systems.

2. History of the Prior Art

Presently available commercial mobile communication systems typicallyinclude a plurality of fixed base stations (cells) each of whichtransmits signals to and receives signals from mobile units within itscommunication area. Each base station is assigned a plurality ofchannels over which it can communicate with mobile units. A mobile unitwithin range of the base station communicates with the external worldthrough the base station using these channels. Typically, the channelsused by a base station are separated from one another sufficiently thatsignals on any channel do not interfere with signals on another channelused by that base station. To accomplish this, an operator typicallyallots to a base station a group of channels which are each widelyseparated from the next. So long as a mobile unit is within the area inwhich the signal from a base station is strong enough and iscommunicating with only that base station, there is no interference withthe communication.

In order to allow mobile units to transmit and receive telephonecommunications as the units travel over a wide geographic area, eachcell is normally physically positioned so that its area of coverage isadjacent to and overlaps the areas of coverage of a number of othercells. When a mobile unit moves from an area covered by one base stationto that covered by another, communication with the mobile unit istransferred (handed off from one base station to another in an areawhere the coverage from different cells overlaps. Because of thisoverlapping coverage, the channels allotted to the cells are carefullyselected so that adjoining cells do not transmit or receive on the samechannels. The channels used by adjoining base stations are alsotheoretically separated from the channels of each adjoining base stationsufficiently that signals from any base station do not interfere withsignals from another adjoining base station. This separation istypically accomplished by assigning a group of widely separatednon-interfering channels to some central cell and then assigning othergroups of widely separated non-interfering channels to the cellssurrounding that central cell using a pattern which does not reuse thesame channels for the cells surrounding the central cell. The pattern ofchannel assignments continues similarly in the other cells adjoining thefirst group of cells. The pattern is often called a channel reusepattern. So long as a mobile unit is within the area in which the signalfrom a base station is strong enough and is communicating with only thatbase station, there is no interference with the communications. However,when a mobile unit moves from an area covered by one base station tothat covered by another base station, the communication must betransferred from one base station to the other in an area. This requirescell coverage to overlap. Because of this overlapping coverage, thechannels allotted to the cells are carefully selected so that adjoiningcells do not transmit or receive on the same channels. There are anumber of different types of mobile communications systems. Channels aredefined in different manners in each of the different systems. In themost prevalent American Mobile Phone System (AMPS) system, channels aredefined by frequency. A frequency band of 25 MHz providing approximatelyfour hundred different adjoining FM frequency channels is allotted bythe federal government to each cellular operator. In a typical AMPSsystem, each channel uses a fixed FM frequency band width of 30 KHz. fordownlink transmission from a base station to a mobile unit and anotherfixed FM frequency band width of 30 KHz. For uplink transmission from amobile unit to a cell. Typically, the frequencies assigned to thedownlink transmissions for an entire cellular system immediately adjoinone another and are widely separated from the frequencies assigned tothe uplink transmissions which also immediately adjoin one another. Inthis specification, even though widely separated, the pair offrequencies used for both downlink and uplink transmission are generallyintended when reference is made to an AMPS channel unless the contextindicates otherwise.

Since channels are defined by frequency in an AMPS system, the channelsused by any single base station are separated from one another infrequency sufficiently to eliminate interference between those channels.An operator typically allots a base station a set of channels withfrequencies which are each separated from the next by some large number(e.g., twenty-one) channels carrying intermediate frequencies. Thus, ina system with twenty-one channel separation, one base station might usechannels 1, 22, 43, 64, 85, and so on up to a total of between five andone hundred individual channels.

When a mobile unit moves from an area covered by one base station tothat covered by another base station in an AMPS system, thecommunication must be transferred from one base station to the other inan area in which cell coverage overlaps. Because of this overlappingcoverage, the channels allotted to the cells are carefully selected sothat adjoining cells do not transmit or receive on the same frequencies.This is typically accomplished by assigning channels to a central cellwhich are widely separated in frequency in the manner described above,and then assigning channels to the cells surrounding that central cellusing a pattern which increases each channel number by one for eachsequential cell surrounding the central cell. Thus, if cells arearranged in a honeycomb pattern in which six cells surround a centralcell using the above-described channels, a first cell adjacent to thecentral cell may have channels 2, 23, 44, 65, 86, and so on while asecond cell adjoining the central cell may have channels 3, 24, 45, 66,87, and so on. The pattern of channel assignments continues similarly inthe other cells adjoining the central cell.

In some AMPS systems, especially those with cells in urban areascarrying heavy traffic, each cell may be further divided into two orthree sectors each of which may include channels having theabove-described frequency allotment of channels. The antennas of eachsector are typically arranged to provide 180 or 120 degree coverage.When cells are discussed herein, sectors are normally meant as wellunless the context indicates otherwise.

Another type of mobile system called Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) uses digital signals to transmit data. All of the base stationsof a CDMA system use the same “spread spectrum” frequency band of 1.25megacycles to transmit the digital signals. The transmissions arecombined with redundant channel coding information to allow errorcorrection. The encoded signals are then multiplied by one of sixty-fourWalsh codes which establish individual channels and increase thebandwidth to 1.25 megacycles. Because of the redundancy of the encodedsignals, a receiver may decode a signal from the plethora of codedchannels carrying data on the broad frequency band. Since the Walshcodes establish a number of individual channels and the pseudo-noisecode assigned to each base station differs from those of othersurrounding base stations, adjacent and remote cells may reuse the samefrequency bands.

In another common type of mobile system called Time Division MultipleAccess (TDMA), frequencies are assigned to the entire system in groupsmuch like they are assigned in an AMPS system. However, within anyfrequency, each base station sends and receives in bursts during somenumber of different intervals or time slots. These time intervals withinfrequency bands then effectively constitute the individual channels. Byassuring that the group of frequencies assigned to any individual basestation differ from one another and from the frequencies assigned tobase stations surrounding each individual base station, a channel reusepattern is established which allows substantially greater use of thefrequency spectrum because of the time division process. In theory,these forms of cell arrangement and channel assignments allows channelreuse patterns to be repeated at distances separated sufficiently tonegate interference between mobile units on the same and adjacentchannels.

Unfortunately, interference does occur for a number reasons. Antennapatterns, power levels, scattering, and wave diffraction differ fromcell to cell. Buildings, various other structures, hills, mountains,foliage, and other physical objects cause signal strength to vary overthe region covered by a cell. Consequently, the boundaries at which thesignal strength of a channel falls below a level sufficient to supportcommunications with a mobile unit vary widely within a cell and fromcell to cell. For this reason, cells adjacent one another do not, infact, typically form the precise geometric boundaries suggested above.Since cell boundaries must overlap to provide complete coverage of anarea and allow handoff and because the boundaries of cells areimprecisely defined, signals will often interfere with one another eventhough they are generated by cells which are at distances theoreticallysufficient to eliminate interference. This is especially true when asectored cell pattern is used because the cells are much closer to oneanother than in a simple cell pattern.

A first signal on a channel from a remote cell interferes with a second(usually) stronger signal carrying a mobile transmission on the samechannel within the coverage area of a cell when the drop in strength ofthe first signal from the second signal is less than some thresholdlevel (typically measured in decibels). A signal from another cell on achannel at a frequency adjacent the frequency of a channel carrying amobile transmission interferes when the drop in strength of theinterfering signal from the serving signal is less than some secondthreshold level. The values are determined by the particular type ofmobile system involved. For example, in an AMPS system, a signal on thesame channel (co-channel) from a remote base station interferes with adesired carrier signal if the interference level is not 18 dB lower thanthe desired carrier; and a signal on an adjacent channel from anotherbase station interferes with a desired carrier signal if theinterference level is not 6 dB lower than the desired carrier. For aCDMA system, an interfering signal must be more than 14 dB stronger thanthe carrier to obscure a carrier signal because the codes establishingthe channels establish heavily redundant signals from which patterns maybe extracted even though the interfering signal is stronger.

In order to determine whether interference exists, a mobile systemoperator typically relies on customer complaints. When customersregister a sufficient number of complaints regarding communication atparticular points in a system, an operator will usually conduct arelatively expensive field test of the suspected portion of the systemto measure carrier signals and interference received. During the test,the portion of the system in which the tests are conducted isessentially disabled. Because of the expense and inconvenience, thetests are typically limited only to the suspected area. Because suchtests are limited to determining the interference at those points atwhich a system operator expects to find interference, the efficacy ofthese tests is very suspect.

The tests provide data from which the points at which channels fromdifferent cells actually interfere with one another may be determined.If the level of interference is sufficiently large, the operator maychange the channel group assigned to the particular area. That is, thefrequency group assigned to a cell (or cells) may be changed in itsentirety to another frequency group in which channels which wouldinterfere with channels carried by other cells do not exist. It is alsopossible to eliminate some interference by changing cell characteristics(such as antenna tilt or power used in particular cells) withoutchanging the channels used. Once channels have been assigned to cellswhich provide acceptable coverage and detected interference has beeneliminated, the system is fixed and operated until other complaintsarise.

A major problem with the process is that it does not provide a completeunderstanding of interference which actually exists in a system sincetypically only those positions at which extensive interference has beenreported are tested for actual interference. The process does not takeinto consideration all of the possible signals which might bepropagating into the affected area to interfere with the carrier nordoes it take into consideration the effects which a change in channelassignments may have in other areas of the system. Often (and possiblyusually) this method of curing interference merely exports theinterference to another portion of the system where it is onlydiscovered when a sufficient number of complaints arise to warrant afield test of the newly isolated area of interference.

Moreover, this method of placing cells, assigning frequencies, andeliminating interference is quite slow and labor intensive. Testing amedium sized system may require as much as 400 man hours. The processgreatly increases the costs of creating and maintaining mobile systemswithout guaranteeing that interference will be eliminated. Because ofthe emerging nature of the market for cellular telephones, systemchanges which cause interference such as traffic growth are taking placeconstantly and at an accelerating rate. Complicating the general problemof interference in an existing system is the fact that cellular systemoperators are presently installing new CDMA and TDMA systems becausethey allow a greater number of mobile units to utilize a system andbecause these digital system provides a better quality of service whenthey are functioning properly. Often the installation of these newsystems is taking place where AMPS cellular systems already exist andwill continue to exist. In general, with these systems, some of thefrequencies used in the AMPS systems are removed; and a CDMA basestation is positioned in place of a sector at a base station.

It is desirable to provide a process by which the quality of serviceprovided by a cellular system (and portions thereof) may be determinedin terms of fixed verifiable quantities so that changes may be made toenhance the quality of service with an expectation that the changes willhave the desired result in actually improving the quality of serviceprovided by the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is realized by a computer implemented processwhich compares signals communicated between a known position and aplurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determinethe level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to servethe known position, and determines a value indicating a probability ofinterference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the knownposition.

In one embodiment, changes in the system to improve the interferencevalue are implemented only if the interference value is above a certainlevel.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood byreference to the detailed description which follows taken together withthe drawings in which like elements are referred to by like designationsthroughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting an idealized mobile cellulartelecommunications system.

FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting a portion of a more realistic mobilecellular telecommunications system than that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a graphical view illustrating the effect of signalsinterfering with carrier signals useful in understanding the method ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a portion of a process in accordancewith the present invention in a system such as that illustrated in FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is flow chart illustrating another portion of a process inaccordance with the present invention in a system such as thatillustrated in FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a cellular telephonesystem which includes a number of individual cells 12 arranged in anidealistic honeycomb pattern. For the purpose of this explanation of theinvention, the system 10 will be considered to be an AMPS system. Thisinvention may be practiced, however, with any of the known cellularsystems including CDMA and TDMA systems. More particularly, the signalstrength data accumulated in constructing a narrow band system such asan AMPS or TDMA system may be used to construct or improve a CDMA orother wide band system. The data accumulated from an AMPS system differsfrom that of a CDMA system only with respect to the effect of Rayleighfading; and the effect of Rayleigh fading cancels out with a sufficientnumber of redundant points of measurement. In a similar manner, the dataaccumulated from a CDMA system may be utilized to construct or improvean AMPS system.

In an AMPS system, each of the cells 12 includes at least one basestation 13 which transmits and receives communications on a number ofassigned frequencies with mobile units 15 operating within its servicearea. The frequencies which are chosen are separated sufficiently thatsignals from any single base station do not interfere with other signalsfrom that base station. In FIG. 1, the service area of each of the idealcells 12 is defined by an outer solid boundary which indicates thelimits of the area in which the signals from that cell 12 are strongenough to serve a mobile unit 15.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, in order to allow mobile units to transmit andreceive telephone communications over a wide area, the service area ofeach cell 12 overlaps the service areas of a number of adjacent cells 12so that within these overlapping areas either of two or more cells 12might serve a mobile unit 15. The channels allotted to the individualcells and the frequency reuse pattern are carefully selected so thatadjoining cells do not transmit or receive on the same frequencies.Consequently, there are no overlapping areas over an entire cellularsystem in which signals of the same frequency are receivedsimultaneously from more than one cell 12 by a mobile unit 15.

In some systems, cells used in areas carrying heavy traffic are furtherdivided into two or three sectors each of which may include channelsallotted as described earlier. The antennas of each three sector cellare arranged to provide 120 degree coverage. With slightly over fourhundred channels available to each cellular system, this allows arepeating pattern of groups of cells in the beehive arrangement of FIG.1 with seven cells each having three sectors each of which hasapproximately twenty channels.

Unfortunately, the boundaries at which the signal strength of a channelfalls below a level sufficient to support communications with a mobileunit vary widely from cell to cell. For this reason, cells adjacent oneanother do not, in fact, typically form the precise geometric boundariessuggested above but form a boundary patterns such as those illustratedin FIG. 2.

Since it is necessary that each cell 12 (or sector of a cell 12 if thecell is divided into sectors) have sufficient power to transmit andreceive signals with a mobile unit 15 in the overlapping areas of cellcoverage to accomplish hand-off of a mobile unit transmission from onecell to another, it is possible that channels used by different cellswill interfere with each other. As has been pointed out, channels whichmay interfere with one another are channels using the same frequency(co-channels) and channels on frequencies immediately adjacent to aserving channel. Thus, in assigning cell sites and establishing a reusepattern, the operator attempts to assure that channels which mightinterfere with one another are not present in overlapping areas. This isrelatively simple given the ideal system such as that illustrated inFIG. 1.

However, in the more realistic system illustrated in FIG. 2, it will beseen that areas covered by different cells overlap not only where thecell sites are immediately adjacent one another but at greaterdistances. For example, coverage provided by cell 4 (in FIG. 2) isoverlapped by coverage provided by each of adjoining cells 1, 2, 3, 5,6, and 7. This overlap is normal and allows hand-off to occur when amobile unit moves from the area covered by cell 4 to any of theimmediately adjoining areas of coverage. However, coverage provided bycell 4 is also overlapped by non-adjoining cell 8. If the cells of FIG.2 are divided into sectors each covering 120 degrees, then thefrequencies of channels assigned to the overlapping areas in adjoiningcells may cause adjacent channel interference. Moreover, because of thelimited number of channels available, the sectors of cell 8 may beassigned channels which cause co-channel interference with the channelsof cell 4 in a typical frequency reuse pattern. Similar interferenceproblems exists with respect to other cells in the cellular system whichare not shown in FIG. 2.

Because the coverage offered by different cells differs so drastically,a cellular system is usually established using software which predictswhat signal strengths are to be expected from each of a particular setof cells. This software uses input data describing the general physicalcharacteristics of the terrain surrounding each cellular site and thephysical characteristics of the cellular station to generate estimatedsignal strength coverage plots for the area surrounding a cellular site.This predictive software is used to determine antenna positions whichshould provide optimum coverage with minimum interference in a typicalsystem. However, since the predictive software used to establish asystem presumes general characteristics derived from similar terrain andsimilar cells to determine cell coverage, overlap such as the overlap ofcell 8 into the boundaries of cell 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 is often notpredicted. In fact, it has been found that the total prediction error incomparing the strengths of the carrier signal and interference utilizingsuch prior art predictive software is approximately plus or minus 13.6dB. Since a carrier signal should be 18 dB greater than an interferingsignal in order to eliminate co-channel interference in an AMPS system,this is a very large discrepancy.

Once cell sites have been determined in some manner (e.g., usingpredictive software), the operator assigns channel groups to the cellsin accordance with the technique described above, places antennas inposition, and operates the system. Unless interference is suspected orimmediately apparent, the operator waits for subscriber complaints tosurface and then conducts physical tests at positions limited to thepositions of the complaints to determine whether interference, in fact,occurs at those positions. The determination of actual interference ismade by drive tests which measure signal strength of channels at thepositions where interference is suspected or complaints have shown thatinterference has occurred within the cellular system area. Conductingsignal to interference measurements is very labor intensive, so strengthmeasurements are typically taken only at points where interference isexpected. These tests may entirely miss interference which actuallyoccurs.

If the tests show that interference is sufficiently great at thepositions of the measurements, the groups of channels assigned to thecells having interfering channels may be changed. Determining whetherinterference is sufficiently great is accomplished by comparing at anypoint the level of interference to the signal level of the carrier.Acceptable levels have typically been chosen to be those describedabove, i.e., 18 dB for co-channel interference and 6 dB for adjacentchannel interference in an AMPS system. If interference of this level isultimately found to exist in an area which is expected to carrysignificant traffic, the frequency group assigned to a cell (or cells)is typically changed in its entirety to another frequency group whichdoes not have channels which would interfere with channels carried bythe surrounding cells. If this does not work, changing cellcharacteristics such as antenna tilt or the radiated power may eliminateinterference without changing the groups of channels used. Once channelswhich provide acceptable coverage have been assigned to cells and thepreviously detected interference has been presumed to be eliminated bythis method, the system is fixed and operated.

This operation is slow, labor intensive, and often does not provide acomplete resolution of the problem. For example, changing frequencyassignments may simply transfer interference problems unexpectedly toother areas of the system by transferring coverage such as that shownfor cell 8 in FIG. 2 to unexpected areas.

A method has now been devised which overcomes the problems of the priorart by utilizing measured signal level data for an entire system toprovide predictive plots which may be utilized to establish cell sitepositions and channel assignments. The process allows plots and channelassignments to be easily changed at minimal cost whenever a systemundergoes change.

In one embodiment, the process begins with a drive test of the entiresystem area. In the drive test for this embodiment, each cell and sectortransmits on a single channel different than any channel used fortransmission by any other cell or sector in the area. In general,signals on all channels transmitted from any one cell are, on anaverage, received at the same strength at any given point in the servicearea so long as the frequencies of the channels are within approximatelyten percent of each other. Thus, whatever channel a cell transmits onduring the tests, the received signal strength will be the same forsignals transmitted on any other channel from that cell.

If an entirely new system is being designed, expected cell sites may beselected in any of a number of different ways such as by use of priorart predictive plotting software; and then test transceivers may beplaced at the proposed cell site positions. If a cellular system alreadyexists, then the cell sites which exist are used along with any proposednew cell sites. A mobile unit with a scanning receiver drives over allof the roads and highways of the entire system. The mobile scanningreceiver constantly scans and measures the strength (usually receivedsignal power) of each test channel transmitted from each of the cellsites as the mobile unit moves. The mobile unit also includes equipment(such as Loran or Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment) whichconstantly records the position of the mobile unit as each set ofstrength measurements is taken. This provides strength measurements offrequencies generated by transmitters at all of the cell sites proposedto be included in the system which can be received at each point in theservice area over which the mobile unit drives. By transmitting fromeach cell on a single different channel, the cell which is transmittingany signal received at any point by the mobile unit is positively known.As the test continues, the signal strength measurements of all signalsreceived (or all signals greater than a certain level) are recorded in adatabase by equipment in the mobile unit together with the position atwhich the signals were received.

It should be noted that certain interference, typically Rayleigh fading,is essentially intermittent in nature. Such interference tends tostrengthen and weaken received signal strength over very shortdistances. In order to eliminate the effect of this intermittent fading,readings may be taken at a number of positions quite close together andlater averaged in order to provide quite an accurate representation ofthe strength of signals received at any point. In one embodiment, eachdata sample is combined with other data samples within one hundred feetof each other to eliminate the intermittent effects and normalizesamples taken during different test drives. Since Rayleigh fading is theprimary difference between received signal strengths in different typesof mobile systems, the data gathered from tests conducted in narrow bandsystems may be used in the design or improvement of wideband systems.

The frequency of each piece of signal strength data in the database isthen related to the test channel being transmitted by each cell andsector during the test. This generates a database which indicates thecell and sector from which each signal received by the mobile unit wassent. The cellular strength data base thus includes actual, rather thanprojected, received signal strengths at each point in the test area forsignals transmitted from each cell.

It should be noted that the signal strength data for an area can becompiled from more than a single drive test. In such a case, the datafrom all of the drive tests must be combined so that the data of eachdrive test matches that of other drive tests. Thus, for example, ifhigher transmission power was used in one drive test than in another,then the strength values should be scaled to provide data having thesame significance. The data collected from one drive test may also be“combined” with previously collected data from other drive tests if thenew data represents only a portion of the cells in the network. Ofcourse, if data is already available from previous wide area testdrives, then this data may be used and no test drives need be conducted.This step is useful when adding new cells to a network so that theeffect of new cells may be determined without having to re-collect datafor the entire network.

A second method of collecting signal strength data provides substantialeconomies over the method explained above, especially when new sites arebeing planned and a particular site has not yet been selected. Testshave shown that the signal strength received at a cell site from themobile transmitter in an uplink transmission is on an average the sameas the signal strength which would be received at a mobile unit from acell site in a downlink transmission. If the uplink and downlink signalstrengths differ, comparable values may be obtained by adjusting theamplifications and power values. Thus, rather than conducting drivetests with transmitters placed at each proposed cell site as in thefirst method and checking each against the other, drive tests areconducted by placing a single transmitter in a mobile unit and usingfixed receivers (rather than expensive scanning receivers) at all of theproposed positions at each of the sites over an area for which new cellsare proposed. The mobile unit drives over the roads encompassed by thenew cells transmitting on a single frequency while all of the receiversattempt to detect the transmission. The power level transmitted by themobile antenna is measured at the mobile unit, and a positioning systemis linked to the mobile unit to provide position indications at eachpoint of measurement. The mobile transmitter sends a signal at theselected frequency, and the receivers at all of the cells measure itsstrength. The position of the mobile unit for each of the testtransmissions is recorded with the times of the transmissions in adatabase. The signal strength received at each proposed site and thetimes of reception are recorded by each receiver. Since the signalstrength received at a cell site from the mobile transmitter in anuplink transmission is on an average the same as the signal strengthwhich would be received at a mobile unit from a cell site in a downlinktransmission (or may be adjusted to be so), the data gathered by thedrive test using this second method may be directly substituted for thedata gathered in the drive tests for the previous method.

Once the data is available, however it has been collected, the processcompares the data for each channel received at each point in the entirearea with the data for all other channels received at the point todetermine at any point which cells should serve the point. These cellsare called “likely servers.” A number of criteria may be used.

In general, a cell is a likely server at a particular location if thereis a non-trivial probability that a cell will provide a transmissionpath to or “serve” a mobile unit at that location. Different methods maybe used to determine likely servers. A basic method identifies as likelyservers all cells that serve a location with a signal strength within 3dB (or some other value depending on the system) of the strongest signalstrength for that location. More sophisticated methods may account forsignal path imbalances, may balance the uplink and downlink strengthswhere they vary, may bias certain strength determinations in favor ofparticular cells, or provide other adjustments to match the particulararea of the system. The method may also account for each different typeof network hardware and network configuration and control information(e.g. how mobile unit hand-off is performed) to determine likely serversfor each location.

Using the basic method, the cell providing the strongest signal at apoint is typically designated the cell to serve that point becausesignals on any channel on which the cell transmits will be received atapproximately the same signal strength. Signals on other channelsreceived at the same point but at lesser strengths still within the 3dB. range typically are transmitted by adjoining cells in whatconstitutes a hand-off (overlap) area for that point. The service areafor each such cell is ultimately determined by applying the plannedpower, path imbalance, and handoff parameters to the test data which hasbeen accumulated.

Once the cells serving all of the points of a service area are known,the group of channel proposed for each of the cells or sectors isassociated with those cells. When the channels for each cell are known,the signal strength provided by each cell which is the server at eachtest position in the cellular system is compared with the signalstrengths of all cells transmitting signals received at each testposition which transmits on channels which could cause co-channel oradjacent channel interference. This allows a determination of whetherthe proposed channel selection causes either co-channel or adjacentfrequency interference at any point in the system. Since the points atwhich signals on any particular channel transmitted by one cell willhave a certain strength and may interfere with signals from another cellmay be determined from the signal strength data which has beencollected, such a determination may be made for each proposed point andchannel in the system. Whether a signal will interfere is usuallydetermined by subtracting the interfering signal strength in dBm fromthe signal strength of the carrier signal serving the point in dBm ateach point. The cells which are likely servers at each point havealready been determined from the test to determine cells serving apoint. For co-channel interference in the AMPS system, if the differenceis less than 18 dB, interference exists. For adjacent channelinterference in the AMPS system, if the difference is less than from 3to 6 dB. (depending on the criteria used), interference exists. If thereis interference at any point in the system, the pattern of channelassignments and other cell configuration information (such as effectiveradiated power (ERP)) may be changed; and the actual signal strengthdatabase may be run against the new cell channel assignments. Thisrequires no new testing or other operations by the operator; it requiressimply running the software until channel selections which excludeinterference are determined.

Not only may the process be used to update or plan a new system, theprocess also allows signal strength measurements derived from drivetests conducted using a particular type of cellular system such as anAMPS to be used for determining coverage and interference patterns forcell sites utilized by entirely different types of systems. This has theadvantage of allowing drive test results accumulated from an oldersystem to be used to predict interference which may occur in newer typesof systems which might be installed at the same sites. The same signalstrength test results may be utilized as a system is changed in anymanner. In a similar manner, if an operator has already established CDMAchannels from which the strength of signals may be discerned, it ispossible to use this data to optimize the performance of the AMPSchannels which exist at the same cell site. An additional benefit isthat the CDMA measurement process is non-invasive so that the operatordoes not have to “key-up” channels for testing to derive data.

In an AMPS system, the new channel assignments may be tested by thesoftware against the signal strength measurement database to derive newpredictions of interference. If additional cells or sectors are to beadded, this may be accomplished by drive tests for signals from the newcells only. These may be added to the signal strength measurementdatabase and the updated database used to determine new channels to beused.

It has now been determined that this process may be made substantiallymore useful by modifying the process to provide consistent values whichindicate just how the various points, sectors, and cells in the system,and the system itself compare with other points, sectors, cells, andsystems. Such a value is more readily understood by system operators andallows changes to be planned with an understanding of the result whichwill be accomplished by those changes.

In order to generate values which have meanings which remain consistentwherever they are determined, the improved process relates not only thestrengths of carrier signals and signals which interfere with thosecarrier signals but also determines the probability of occurrence of thevarious interfering signals and the severity of the interference duringreceipt of the interfering signal. This allows an interference value tobe determined which essentially indicates the percentage of time asubscriber to a mobile system may expect to encounter perceptibleinterference at any point in the system. Moreover, the interferencevalues for points within a sector, cell, and system may be accumulatedand averaged in the manner described in FIG. 4 to provide aninterference value for sectors, cells, and the system. This allows anoperator to pinpoint sectors and cells which need to be improved andprovides an overall evaluation of a system from which an operator maydetermine rationally whether improvements need to be made. Using theinterference values for points in a system, the efficacy of each changeto the system may be evaluated as it is proposed. Each type of changewhich might be made may be compared to other types of changes in orderto make the most economical changes possible.

To understand how a consistent interference value may be derived, theprocess of interference has been dissected to determine its elements.For example, if it is possible that three different signals mayinterfere with a particular signal from a base station which is a mostlikely server, then the actual likelihood of each of these signalsinterfering can be considered in order to better understand how receiptof signals at that point compare with receipt of signals at other pointsand thus to have an idea on how to improve a system. This isaccomplished by the use of a probability number assigned to each of thedifferent interfering signals determined from the traffic patterns andother factors known (or estimated) to occur for the particular basestations. A cell in an area having more traffic transmits during agreater portion of the time spectrum.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plot of co-channel interference ratios (carrierstrength of signal from a primary server divided by signal strength of aco-channel signal received) versus the effect those ratios have ontransmission of a carrier signal in an AMPS system. The effect is shownas a weight value which indicates the severity of the interference. Asmay be seen, if the co-channel interference is great enough so that thedifference in signal strength is less than approximately 10 dB, then theinterference is too great for any useful transmission. Such aninterference level is given a weight of one. On the other hand, if thesignal strength of a carrier signal is more than 18 dB greater than thesignal strength of the interfering co-channel, then the effect on thetransmission is nil; and a weight of zero is given. Between thesevalues, the interfering signal has greater and lesser effects as may beseen from the figure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the presumption is made that if twoor more signals may possibly interfere with a carrier at any point inthe system, the effect of the stronger interfering signal will negateany effect that the weaker signals may have during time the strongersignal is being received. Although this is an approximation, its use haslittle affect on the accuracy of the results produced. The use of thispresumption means that only the stronger interfering signal need beconsidered at any time. Thus, to determine the overall effect of threeinterfering signals, the probability of the occurrence of each signal isdetermined and then multiplied by the weight value to determine theeffect that signal has. For example, a strongest interfering signalwithin 10 dB of the carrier has the weight one (indicating that thecarrier signal is entirely obscured during transmission of theinterfering signal) multiplied by the probability of occurrence. Thusfor the 2 dB signal shown in FIG. 3, its probability is 0.4; and itseffect is obtained by multiplying this probability by the weight of one.

Once the effect of the strongest interfering signal has been determined,its probability of transmission is subtracted from one to provide theprobability that the first interfering signal is not active. The resultof this computation provides the time range within which the secondstrongest interfering signal occurring will have significant effect.Thus, the probability that the second strongest signal of 12 dB willinterfere is the probability factor 0.6 of the second signal occurringmultiplied by the time during which it will have significant influence(0.6 of the total time). This probability for the second signal ismultiplied by its weight of 0.84 to determine its effect. Theprobability that the third signal of 15 dB will interfere is determinedby multiplying the probability that the first interfering signal is notactive by the probability that the second interfering signal is notactive by the probability factor for the third signal occurring. Thisprobability factor is then multiplied by the weight of 0.32 for thethird signal to reach an effect for the third signal.

Adding the effect of all of these signals interfering provides a finalresult of 0.7408 which may be stated as a percentage and provides aquality number for the particular point in the system with the plannedchannels and parameter settings. In essence, the interference valueindicates the percentage of time interference will be present at thepoint. Obviously, the value of 74% indicates that receipt of signals atthe particular point is almost impossible. This interference or qualityvalue may be compared with interference values for all other points in aservice area.

Once a quality value for a point has been obtained, quality values areobtained for some number of additional points in the sector sufficientto provide a relatively good evaluation of all of the places in thesector at which communications may be received. The quality valuesobtained for a sector are then added together and divided by theirnumber to obtain an average quality value for the sector (or cell). FIG.4 illustrates the method by which this is accomplished, finding first aninterference value for a point, then a next point, and so on until thepoints for a sector are all determined. Then all sectors values aredetermined and finally a sector score is reached.

Similarly, once the quality value for one sector has been obtained,quality values for all sectors in a system may be similarly obtained,added together and averaged to provide a quality score for the entiresystem. This score may then be utilized to determine whether the systemshould be changed in order to provide improved service. Utilizing aquality value which is consistently applied from point-to-point,sector-to-sector, and system-to-system allows a valuation to be madefrom which some real determination of quality may be made.

More specifically, if a quality valuation for a sector is known, it ispossible to determine whether changes which might be attempted in thesystem would be successful. That is, different changes to a particularsector may be assigned different quality increments by testing todetermine the effect those changes might have. For example, changing thepower level of an interfering signals from another sector can clearly beascribed an increment since the level of signal received is an exactvalue in reaching the original interference level. With an incrementalvalue to be applied for a change to the sector, it may be known beforeany change is made whether that change will provide an improvement inthe sector and system quality.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart which illustrates the operation of the method toimprove the quality of a system once a quality value for the sectors anda system are found and the values of possible changes are known. As maybe seen, the method begins with the original interference value for apoint, and selects a best change to improve the quality of service forthe point. Often when beginning to improve a system, this best change isa change in the group of frequencies assigned to one or more sectors (orcells). Probably the next change to be made once appropriate frequencygroups have been chosen, is to change power settings of transmitters.Biasing the level of handoff so that the handoff occurs if two channelsare within two, three, or four dB of one another in a handoff areachanges the point at which handoff occurs and the level of powernecessary in those areas. Other changes which are possible includechanging antenna types, and other changes related to equipmentmodification.

The method illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used in more than one manner. Itmay be used to iterate through changes of one type (e.g., change thefrequency assignments) computing each result as it is implemented insoftware until an interference value is reached which is the best thatthat form of change can accomplish. Alternatively, it may be used toselect among different types of changes to determine which provides abetter result when compared to the cost of implementing the change.

Presuming for the moment that the change is an iteration through aselection of possibilities of one type (frequency groups) until a bestresult is reached, a list of changes is prepared by comparing theinterference levels at each point to determine which frequenciesinterfere with one another. A particular change is selected from thelist of possible changes, and a determination is made by running thesoftware whether the change produces a result greater than some value sothat the change is worth undertaking for the improvement to be expected.When testing different frequency groups, the change making the processworth while may be a reduction of some percent (e.g., one percent) inthe interference value. Changing frequency groups, changing powerlevels, or biasing the handoff level differently usually costs nothingbut processing time and is worth while if it produces a concrete result.Other changes may require new equipment and be more expensive, however.

If the change contemplated does not produce an improvement sufficient towarrant its use, the change may be thrown out and a final interferencevalue determined. If the change is worth making, the list of changes isupdated to show that the particular change has been evaluated and theamount of change is listed in a list of changes. The change is added toa list of changes to make as a best change if it is the first or besttested. It is also listed as the best change to make. The process theniterates through the list and for each change above the minimum changewhich is worth while, updates the list of possible changes by removingthe tested changes from the list of those changes still to be tested,recording the change value, adding the change to the optimization stepsif its effect is greater than preceding changes, and replacing the bestchange with the latest change if the result is correct. Ultimately, thebest change to be made for the particular point is reached. A similarprocess occurs for all other points in the system. Ultimately, a resultfor changing the particular factor that produces the best result foreach sector and the system is reached.

The method may then proceed with any other changes which mightimplemented to improve the system. The same iterative method may be usedto determine a best change of the particular type for each point,sector, cell, and the system.

Alternatively, different types of changes may be given differentweightings and the entire process carried out for each point withrespect to all of the possible changes to determine which changes shouldbe implemented to produce the best results.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of apreferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that various modificationsand alterations might be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. The inventionshould therefore be measured in terms of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for optimizing the performance of awireless communication system, comprising the steps of: for each of anumber of sector signals: measuring a received signal strength of saidsector signal at a plurality of measurement points within the bounds ofa test region; for each of said plurality of measurement points,averaging the values of said received signal strength, for said sectorsignal, measured at a number of the closest measurement points, to themeasurement point under consideration, with the value of said receivedsignal strength, for said sector signal, measured at the measurementpoint under consideration; for each of said plurality of measurementpoints within the bounds of a test region: determining a likely serversector based upon the relative values of said number of averagedreceived signal strengths for said measurement point; determining anumber of likely interferer sectors based upon the relative values ofsaid number of averaged received signal strengths for said measurementpoint; and for each individual one of said number of likely interferersectors, calculating a product obtained by multiplying an estimate ofsaid individual sector's likelihood of transmission by a weighting valueindicating the relative value of said individual sector's average signalstrength to said likely server sector's average signal strength;determining a weighted probability that at least one of said number oflikely interferer sectors will be active at some time, by mathematicallycombining said calculated products; and ascribing said weightedprobability as a magnitude of measurement point interference.
 2. Aprocess for optimizing the performance of a wireless communicationsystem, comprising the steps of: for each of a number of measurementpoints within the bounds of a test region: determining a likely serversector based upon the relative values of a number of signal strengthmeasurements made at said measurement point; determining a number oflikely interferer sectors based upon the relative values of said numberof signal strength measurements made at said measurement point; and foreach individual one of said likely interferer sectors, calculating aproduct obtained by multiplying an estimate of said individual sector'slikelihood of transmission by a weighting value indicating the relativevalue of said individual sector's signal strength measurement to saidlikely server sector's signal strength measurement; determining aweighted probability that at least one of said number of likelyinterferer sectors will be active at some time, by mathematicallycombining said calculated products; and ascribing said weightedprobability as a magnitude of measurement point interference.
 3. Theprocess of claim 2, further comprising the step of: for each individualone of a number of server sectors within the bounds of said test region,determining an individual sector interference value by: calculating asector interference sum by summing said measurement point interferencevalues for all of said number of measurement points having a commonlikely server sector; and dividing said sector interference sum by thenumber of said measurement point interference values summed.
 4. Theprocess of claim 3, further comprising the step of: determining a systeminterference value by: calculating a system interference sum by summingsaid individual sector interference values for all of said number ofserver sectors within the bounds of said test region; and dividing saidsystem interference sum by the number of said individual sectorinterference values summed.